Unni Pillai — CTO

"Lead me, follow me, or get the hell out of my way." Global technology leader with over 20+yrs of experience delivering transformation, innovation, and resilience across regulated financial services and technology sectors in APAC and EMEA. I bring the ability to unify software engineering, infrastructure, platform engineering, data, AI/ML, and security into strategies that drive sustainable business growth and operational excellence. I have built & led large, multi-disciplinary global teams, overseeing modernization of mission-critical platforms, core banking, customer, and digital systems, integrating infrastructure, AI/ML, and data into unified, scalable, secure architectures. Led adoption of secure-by-design principles and embedded SRE and operational resilience into enterprise delivery. My work spans cloud-native transformations, AI-driven engineering, data platforms (lakehouse, data mesh), payments modernization, and advanced analytics, partnership with C-suites, boards, and regulators. I serve as President & Chairman of the Board of Amazon Data Services Philippines, providing governance, fiduciary oversight, and strategic direction for regional operations while representing the organization with regulators, industry bodies, and public–private forums. My leadership experience includes board-level responsibilities in corporate governance and aligning technology operations with fiduciary, regulatory, and strategic priorities. Previously, as Chief Architect for Citi’s Global Consumer & Wealth Banking, I contributed to modernization across multiple markets in APAC and EMEA. My work included advancing data engineering, machine learning adoption, and digital acceleration, as well as involvement in regulatory consent order responses and strengthening compliance and reporting. I am also an Advisor to a Global AI Council, contributing to thought leadership on responsible AI adoption, policy engagement, and initiatives that advance regional AI capability. Equally adept at shaping long-term vision and driving execution, I partner with business leaders to align technology investment with strategic outcomes, accelerate go-to-market initiatives, and scale operations across diverse markets. I work extensively with public–private ecosystems, technology partners, and industry forums to expand digital capabilities, launch new propositions, and influence policy direction. I thrive in complex, high-stakes environments where technology is both a competitive differentiator and a regulated asset, balancing innovation, resilience, compliance, and commercial growth.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Fintech leader with expertise in cloud computing and AI-driven solutions.

Location: Singapore, Singapore

Experience: 19 yrs 3 mos